THAR 281 Lecture 9Outline of Last Lecture: 18th Century English and French TheatreI. The age of EnlightenmentII. 18th Century Dramaa. Drame Bourgeoisb. Ballad Operac. Comic Operad. Sentimental Comedye. Laughing Comedyf. Tearful ComedyIII. Acting StylesOutline of Current Lecture: Romanticism and Melodrama 1800-1875I. 1800-1875 EventsII. Major Categories of Dramaa. Romanticismb. Melodramac. Well Made PlayIII. Rise of the StarCurrent LectureRomanticism and Melodrama 1800-1875Events of 1800-1875- Age of independence- Industrial revolution- Rise of middle class- Towns & cities growing in population- Idea of freedom and liberty prominent- NationalismThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species (1859)Major Categories of Drama:- Romanticism- Melodrama- Well Made PlayPeople went to theatre to escape everyday life, theatre has never been this popular, and this is the most popular period for theatre.Romanticism:- Germany: philosophical and literacy movement- born out of storm distress movement.- Genus creates its own rules. Romantists were about individuality, freedom & nature.o Basic principles: -There is a higher truth creation from an absolute being- some kind of greater power out there. -If everything is created from the same absolute being, everything has a common origin, the study of any one part can reveal truths about the whole. Ex: if god created everyone, we all have something in common, if you study part of us, you will learn more about us as a whole. -man vs. nature, duality of all things, evil vs. good. Physical vs. spiritual, chemical vs. eternal -artists and philosophers are more creative than everyone else, and only ones who really get it and understand, most people don’t understand them.Oscar G Brockett: wrote that happiness can only be found in a spiritual realm, not on this earth. So as long as you’re alive, you will never be completely happy.o Romantic drama characteristicso Individual/independence- all about one persono Rejected neoclassism, all of it.o Rejected narrow didacticism- not everything had to be right or wrong (just), not everything is black and white, there is some gray.o No subject matter is off limits- don’t care if it offends you or makes you uncomfortable. They supported grotesque subjects, and some not ideal for stage.o Had all the emotions. Used emotions not logic Shakespeare- romanticists like the works of Shakespeare. Mood and atmosphere- created a tone to help you understand, and feel what they are feeling. Hero= social outcastMelodrama:o Melodrama: most popular drama of the 19th century.o “song drama” or “music drama” Use music to underscore the actiono French movemento Early 19th centuryo Used stock characters- damsel in distress, over the top characters, the hero, villaino Suspenseful ploto Music to build tension or emotiono Climactic moment at the end of each act Played off of suspense, fear, etc…o Highly moral- good vs. evil, no in-between! the hero always wins traditional values and stereotypes- damsel- pretty, pure, good person- hero- strong, good person- villain- evil, mean person Spectacular scene effects- ex: elephants on stage, etc…o Kinds of Melodrama: Domestic- ex: soap operas Frontier- ex: life out west, cowboy and Indians, westerns Crime- ex: crime, modern day equivalent to CSI, etc. Nautical- ex: happens on the sea, Pirates of the Caribbean, swashbucklingfilms Equestrian- ex: drama’s dealing with horses, (Black Beauty) now all kinds of animals included.o Examples of Melodrama: Betty Boop & MuppetsThe Well Made Play:Precursor to modern day realism Emphasizes carefully crafted dramatic structure Explains what you need to know to understand, each opening act includes all necessary exposition. Each act builds on the previous one Resolution leaves not unanswered questionsRising action Falling actionRise of the Star- 19th century: theatre is at its highest. Eleonora Duse- quiet, avoided press, very popular  Ira Aldridge- most famous African American actor at the time, didn’t think was safe in U.S, became European star in England. Sarah Bernhardt- Ideal actress, huge melodrama star, had lots of rumors surrounding, she was eccentric and odd. Rumor- she slept in a coffin.Delsarte Acting:So….Francois Delsarte (1811-1871) - advocated a way to teach people to act Acting theorist and teacher Came up with a scientific approach to actingo Ex: poses for: Flight- scared, run away! Defiance: pose angrily Problems with this! Not realistic He taught this method to actors trying to make them more realistic, good idea, but didn’t work, made actors more mechanical… etc…o Had charts of eye, hand, and body postures for different feelings and moods…o He began teaching based on observation in 1839o Had the right idea, but didn’t worko Method rejected by “realists”- to systematic, play example: Phantom of the